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Programs

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

Getting Equipped to be #WorldReady

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Be #WorldReady

With Project Imo

Expert Mentorship

Mentors are a critical part of healthy youth development. A caring, compassionate adult outside of the family unit can provide a diverse lens for experience and help guide a youth on successful journeys.

Project Imo Excellence

The Project Imo team collectively possesses more than a century of extensive experience in youth education, adventure programming, and community building, all working to enhance your journey.

Internationally Recognized

The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is delivered in over 130 countries and was founded by HRH the Prince Philip and one of the world’s leading experiential educators & youth program innovators, Kurt Hahn

Empowering Youth to be #WorldReady

Founded in 1956 by HRH The Prince Philip and Kurt Hahn, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an internationally recognized program for young people, building their skills to equip them for life and work. Project Imo is thrilled to be an official Award Center.

Award Overview

Founded in 1956 by HRH The Prince Philip and Kurt Hahn, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an internationally recognized program for young people, building their skills to equip them for life and work. Project Imo is thrilled to be an official Award Center.

Navigation Award Compass Event

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award

The Award is a global framework for non-formal education and learning, which challenges young people to discover their potential and build their purpose, passion, and place in the world.

Project Imo is honored to be the first organization in Connecticut to offer the Award USA program 

Project Imo staff provides mentorship, logistical resources, skilled instruction and facilitation, resource guidance, and financial support to young people seeking to realize their leadership potential by taking part in the Award USA program in southern New England. Project Imo’s youth leadership and conservation programs, while not required to complete the Award, are a perfect place for Award Participants to develop and Project Imo works to provide scholarships for these programs.

What is the Award?

The Award is a program of activities. Each young person who takes part in the Award learns a skill, improves their physical fitness, volunteers in their community and experiences a team adventure in a new environment. Success in the Award is measured by regular participation over a fixed period of time while showing commitment and progress in each activity. All participants are supported by a network of adult mentors called Award Leaders.

Each award is fully personalized, youth led, and expertly mentored. The program focuses on real-world experiences that help the youth develop skills, build character, create community connections, and prepare themselves for the future as a global citizen in a local community.

Guiding Principals of the Award

Individual

 

Non-competitive

 

Achievable

 

Voluntary

 

Developmental

 

Balanced

 

Progressive

 

Inspirational

 

Persistence

 

Enjoyable

The Award Framework

The Award is divided into three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, which correlate with varying time commitments growing progressively longer from Bronze to Gold.  

Key Elements of the Program

  • Age: Open to all between the ages of 14 and 24.

  • Three Levels: Bronze (14 and older), Silver (15 and older), and Gold (16 and older, coming soon to Project Imo), each progressively more challenging.

  • Four Sections: Skills, Physical Recreation, Voluntary Service,  & Adventurous Journey, and a Gold Residential Project (coming soon).

  • Impact: Achieving an Award recognizes individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement.

The Award Sections

Skills

Rock Climbing Skill Photo
Participants can choose to improve on an existing skill or try something completely new, as they develop personal interests and enhance their practical and social skills. Examples of skills are nature & environmental skills, music, arts & crafts, communications skills, STEAM field studies, and more. 

Physical Recreation

Physical Recreation Lady with Bike by the ocean
Physical Recreation encourages healthy behavior and impacts the self-esteem, team skills, and confidence of participants. Physical recreation can include sports such as soccer, basketball baseball, football, hockey, golf; athletics such as running, triathlon, lifting; outdoor pursuits like watersports & hiking; martial arts, animal sports, and gymnastics.

Voluntary Service

Voluntary Service Clean Up
The Award encourages young people to spend time volunteering in their community, which both benefits others and contributes to their own growth and well-being. Voluntary service can be visiting & supporting people in need, volunteering with a local charity, sports coaching, teaching & tutoring, helping with community projects, or engaging in conservation efforts.

Adventurous Journey

Adventurous Journey Mountain Hike
The Adventurous Journey sparks exploration and drives a sense of adventure, as small teams plan, train and undertake a journey through an unfamiliar environment. Project Imo hosts adventurous journeys such as exploring the natural world, hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, and more. Each adventure is completed by a cohort of Award Participants.

Outcomes and Impact

Outcomes for Young People

  • Confidence
  • Ability to manage feelings
  • Resilience & determination
  • Building relationships & leadership
  • Creativity & adaptability
  • Planning & problem-solving
  • Civic & intercultural competence
  • Personal & social well-being
  • Communication skills

Impact of the Award

  • Improved employability & earning potential
  • Improved physical health & fitness
  • Improved mental health & emotional well-being
  • Increased engagement with charitable & community causes
  • Improved environmental impact
  • Increased social & community cohesion
  • Reduced offending

Get More Info

Eager to discover more about Project Imo’s offerings for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program?
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